life with 3

It has been almost 4 weeks since I brought my youngest son home. Life is different! We are working on a new normal and learning a LOT about life with 3 kids three years and under. 

1. Plan, plan PLAN! 

When it come to being somewhere on time this doesn't just happen. Every event requires it's own planning committee almost! Night before packing is life saver if I want to be somewhere on time in the mornings. Everything I do is in 3 hour cycles because of nursing. It's crazy how the smallest member of our home changes our lives SO MUCH!

2. Being at home is just fine

I love to 'be on the go', however because of all the planning required I am less likely to go. For the most part I am ok with it because there is very little stress in being at home. 

But being people person I tend to get a little low when I am home too many days in a row. So I do make sure an see outside faces regularly!

3. If all I did was feed kids, and play, that's fine

I like completing task, and having a clean house, but the truth is those task can keep, my children won't. The dishes, laundry, dusting and sweeping will all be there when they are napping or have gone to bed. I want to be present when they want me to play cars in the dirt, or bring me a dandelion bouquet.  I want to spend time doing nothing but holding my baby and breathing in his sweetness. 

Because one day he won't smell sweet and won't fit in my arms!

Cherishing these moments!

keep on keepin' on

STILL PREGNANT

&

FALSE LABOR STINKS

I have had about 3 false starts since my nesting post! NOT nice son!

Remember the Nesting list?

• Vacuum/clean out my SUV
• Install infant car-seat and put snap-n-go in the trunk 
• Pack my bag and baby's bag for the Birth Center
• Buy more diapers, {we were gifted with almost 800 diapers from my hubs soccer team}
• Wash remaining baby clothes
• Send emails to my friend Andrea for the Care Calendar ( SO excited about not cooking!)
• Arrange for my 2 hours of house cleaning (Baby shower gift)
• Hang picture collage over my couch {bought some frame at the thrift store}
• Make a clothespin chandler from Young House Love {not because it's done I'm just taking it off the list!
• Make Goodwill, Kid to Kid, Half Price Books and Clothes Mentor drop offs

Got some things done and still have more to do. Plan on working on the collage today and tomorrow borrowing I don't go into labor. 

My sweet mother-in-love came over and helped clean some. So now I can schedule that Groupon for house cleaning. My sweet husband doesn't understand why I would clean before having professionals come clean. I don't think this is one will ever be understood my males! But I want the house cleaners to clean the stuff I don't want to. You know deep clean

~Bathroom {need I say more} 

~Baseboards

~Mop

~Wash windows

~Mini blinds

~Fans/light fixtures

~Dust my surfaces 

That can't be done if piles of clutter are everywhere. So I plan to schedule them to come probably next week which means I will probably beg ask my mom to come over and help me prep for the cleaning people!

What are you doing this week that is productive/non productive?

It's a...

I wish I could say that I am ecstatic as this note looks or even when I announced I was pregnant,

but I am a little sad. I haven't cried yet which I probably will do tonight in bed. 

Now for anyone who is struggling to conceive or carry a child to term

please don't hear a complaining mother. 

I know that we are very blessed to be pregnant with our third in 3 years.

I just wanted a girl. 

I kept telling myself that I was expecting a boy so I wouldn't be disappointed.

But clearly when my husband opened the envelope I was VERY disappointed. 

I started smiling very largely and laughing to keep from crying. 

I know I will love this boy.

I know I will adore him.

I love him now.

It is going to take me a few days to let go of hoping for a girl. 

I realize at this point statistically I am destained to being a boymom.

I probably won't have a girl as our fourth, if we decide to have four.

And that's OK. 

Its OK that I  am sad about letting go of the dreams.
Dreams of mother/daughter events.

Dreams of picking out a prom dress,

Dreams of my daughter in he wedding gown

Dreams of watching Robert walk her down the isle and

crying through their father/daughter dance. 

I wanted all those memories. 

But as of now that isn't the plan God has for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

God has a plan for these 3 Pattenaude boys that I am not aware of and I have to trust that His plan is better than anything I could ever plan.

I will have new dreams.
For starters I will have the privilege of bawling my eyes out three time
during the mother/son dance!

Now to agree on a name!

Getting a Handle on Tantrums

  

A few days ago Paula from Hope for the Future wrote a piece about dealing with tantrums. I was asked to contribute. Below is the whole piece. Paula was only able to use the piece in parts. I wanted to share with you one of the ways we handle tantrums in our home. Having two boys 11.5 months apart we deal with tantrum everyday.

My youngest E is 18 months and is the easiest to deal with when it comes to tantrums. For the most E’s tantrums end as easily as the start. He screeches out and then is pleasant even if he doesn’t get his way. On the occasion that I have to get on to him, I always get eye level and in a firm voice tell him no to his behavior and what I expect. Now E is tenderhearted so he will burst into tears at a firm no.D on the other hand, is my rambunctious 2 ½ year old is not that easy.  D requires physical force, meaning that something thing must be done to him (restrained), taken from him, and sometimes he must be removed from the situation.  So this is how it usually is between D and me.

• ·      D will do something that he knows is not allowed like stand on the couch and play with the mini-blinds. I will tell him, “ D no! Do not touch the mini blinds and sit on your bottom.”
• ·      D obeys for 2 seconds and is right back to his mischief. I repeat myself but physically sit him and remove his hand. Here is where the tantrum starts.
• ·      D will fall back on the coach stiffen his body. I tell him “mommy said to stop and you are disobeying “ He yells “NO!!!” I remove him from the room and take him to his room, and say, “You do not tell mommy no. You must calm down or you will sit on your bed until you do.”
• ·      If he doesn’t comply I sit him on his toddler bed, leave the room, close the door and set the timer for 2 min. This step is repeated till my son has calmed down enough that I can talk to him without listening to screaming, crying or whining, I do not tolerate any of these is a disobedience situation.
• ·      Once he is calm, I take him back to where is was misbehaving (if it is applicable and repeat my expectation).

I know that this seems tedious and long, but the goal is training. I don’t want to have to worry every time I go to someone’s house that my son is going to stand on his or hers furniture. I want to raise sons that respect rules and authority.

Proverbs 22:6  “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:15 “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives if far from him”

I hold to this verse during tantrums. My child is being foolish, he doesn’t know how he aught to behave or act. Which is why God saw fit to give him to me so that I can train him and discipline him. The world around us is counting on the mother, fathers and caretakers of children to live up to these verses. If we do not we are left to a world led by foolish, wayward undisciplined men and women.

I look forward to reading how you handling tantrums with toddlers.

Thankful Thursday~Four weeks with 2 boys

Today my new baby Elliot is 4 weeks old! Oh how time flies with 2! It is amazing that I am able to get anything accomplished! But some how I am able to:

1. keep our new little home clean, 
2. laundry done, 
3. boys fed, diapered, and clothed, 
4. cook breakfast, lunch and dinner
5. Grocery shop

 I also am able at times to do things for myself with and without the boys

1. Attend MOPS and Building Blocks
2. Go shopping for clothes for MYSELF!!!
3. Go out with girlfriends
4. In Feburary attend Bible study

Its definitely harder with two, it takes twice as long to do anything, but I love my boys and wouldn't trade it for the world! I am so thankful for my family I wouldn't trade them for anything!

Stroller Shopping

I am always so frustrated when I enter a baby store! Why in the world is baby gear SO EXPENSIVE!!! We are expecting our second boy in a little under 3 months. So I was in BuyBuyBaby looking for a double stroller that will fit into my Honda Civic trunk.

The stroller (see below) that goes with my car seat is HUGE

The Chicco Double stroller suggested retail $300.00

It folded well but it is huge! I mean I am only 5'2 and that handle has to be 4'3 high! It was to my chest!

Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem Sug. Retail $280.00

This is the one I want but the didn't have for me to test out my car seat. But these two strollers where the cheapest price wise, but overall well made strollers. I am still fearful that non of them will fit into our very very VERY small car trunk.

How did you pick your stroller?

This whole process is stressful. So many options, so many models, so many prices, so many review... AGH it is enough to make a woman go mad! My sweet hubby was with me and said "why are you stressing about this, just pick the one you like best." I wish it were that easy, however there are too many what if's. 

Where do you do your research? This Diva momma needs some help!!!!

Seven Slings Steal!

I have to pass on this great deal, I am not sure how long it will last so don't wait!

ANYONE who has just had a baby or will soon, or is simply interested in checking out a sling - sevenslings is having a special with 100% off a sling, you just pay shipping. The promo code is "babies". JUST ONE PER ORDER. You pay $15.45 shipping/insurance for a $40 sling. PASS IT ON...BUT GET YOURS FIRST...MANY ARE ON BACKORDER

https://www.sevenslings.com/index.php/cart#slings

Projects

For some reason when I am pregnant I have this desire to do projects. Like I have extra time to do them! Recently I have become obsessed with card making and all that can be done with them, heat embossing, stamping, stickers, fun/cute paper etc. My newest obsession is sewing. Now I have made maybe a handful of sewing project in my 25 years but I hope to make them a regular part of my life! I have a whole list of project I want to complete before little man make his appearance:

1. Apron; I found some different ideas from 50 free Apron Patterns
2. Mei tai carrier; this might be the most complicated project!
3. Curtains
4. Burp clothes

I think I might be a little ambitious but maybe I will get 2 done! Let me know if you would like to tag along with any of these projects.

Update

I can't seem to keep up a blog, I have such good intentions but they all seem for not.

A lot has happened since I last updated here are the highlights

1. We found out in April/May that baby number 2 was on the way! Due January 6, 2011
2. Robert went to Europe for 12 LONG days so I had to hold down the fort by myself, not fun
3. David has hit so many differnet milestones: Sleeping through the night, eating solid food, sitting up, trying to creep
4. I discovered that my son is a water baby. It totally relaxes him!
5. I got a brand new phone that I LOVE. Sprints HTC EVO!!!! SO AWESOME!!!
6. We found out that baby number 2 is a boy, Elliot Donovan.

And here are the things that I am looking forward to happening!

1. Finding a new place to live. (Living on the 3rd floor of an apartment isn't ideal when you are 4 months preggo and holding a 6 month old!
2. All my activities starting, Bible study, MOPS, Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Classes,
3. FOOTBALL, all kinds, Jr High, Jr Varsity, Varsity, College and Pro!
4. Of course the birth of Elliot!

So that is a snap-shot of the past 4 months! Hope I can keep it up. Hard to be motivated when you don't know if anyone is even reading it!

Milan Maternity Giveaway!!!

Check out this awesome giveaway! If you are pregnant, plan on being so again or have a friend or family member who is pregnant you have to enter! $250 giveaway!!!! So check out their website and blog!

Getting out and about

So my sweet little bundle of joy is 3 weeks old and has already seen his fare share of the Dallas area! Since his mommy can't sit still long or stay home long here are a few places we have been since his birth!

1. Basketball game -North Dallas
2. Basketball game - Richardson
3. Basketball game -Frisco
4. Target - Mesquite and Dallas
5. Kohl's -Dallas
6. Kroger-Dallas
7. Cindy NY Deli -North Dallas
8. Inwood Village Pediatrics - Dallas
9. Bible Study- Watermark, Dallas
10. MOPS- Willshire Baptist, Dallas
11. Church- Scofield Church, Dallas
12. Both sets of grandparents, Garland

Now all we need is to visit Addison, Carrolton, and Plano! But really I love being out. My favorite thing that I have done as a new mom is MOPS. I am so glad that I joined. They are a great group of women. One reason I am loving my MOPS group is they have brought me meals before even meeting me. I joined about a week before David was born, and their meal coordinator contacted me because she wanted to set up bring meals to me. This lady didn't know me from Adam, but wanted to serve. I thought that was awesome, and definitely want to be a part of a group who serves. So those of you who aren't in MOPS look it up, it is great!

Love is..

a precious sleeping son

your son asleep with your husband

holding your baby

and planting a kiss on his soft little cheek

This is love!

The Birth of David Logan Pattenaude

So I want to document the wonderful birth of my son.

It all began Thursday at 3:15am. Nice strong, deep pain beginning in my hips woke me up. I remember waking Robert saying, " If I have another one of these we are timing them because that HURT!" Well I did have another, and another and another for about 3hrs. So we called the midwife at 6:15am to let her know what was happening. She told me that I could get in the tub for the pain, then take a walk to help speed them up, and to call her when they were every 5 minutes lasting a minute, for one hour (5-1-1) So I did just what she said, and after we got back from our walk the contractions just STOPED!! I was not happy. So we took a (much needed) nap. So it is about 10:30am and I realize “I am hungry”. So Robert made us some grits for breakfast. My midwife called to see how I was progressing, I had to tell her that my contractions had stopped then picked back up to every 15-25 mins. She said well it is still early in the day, this might be false labor or just early labor. So Robert and I decided to relax and watched the Last Holiday. After the movie we started what Robert likes to call “ Operation Baby” which involved all the non-drug ways to induce labor, acupressure, some um-um lovey time ;), and Mexican food. As we were getting ready to go to the Mexican restaurant my contractions were happening every 4-6 minutes lasting about 55 sec. Lucky for me ZuZu’s was empty except for the 2 workers. So while trying to eat my soup I was having contractions, not a good combination. I wasn’t able to eat all of my food. We called the midwife and she wanted us to come in for a labor check, just to see if anything had happened. So we drive the 10 min from the restaurant to the birth center, which were the longest 10 minutes of my life thus far. Contractions in the car, driving over a bumpy road are very uncomfortable! We arrived at the birth center at about 5:30pm and got checked by the birth assistant 4 cm and completely effaced. So she suggested that we go to the park next door and walk. So we walked and in 30 minutes I have 8 contractions and they were pretty intense. At this time, I couldn't walk anymore so the midwife came and checked me, I was at a 5 and she was going to break my water. Before she did that I had to have an IV put in so that I could receive antibiotics for the Group B Strep. It is now about 6:15 and the contractions are every 2-4 mins lasting over a minute, and require me to totally concentrate on what my body was doing. After about 2 ½ hrs of contractions the birth assistant comes to me and says it is time to squat and get the baby down. All I can think is “that is going to hurt more!” But I do it because I was tired and ready to be done. We move to the birthing room and the midwife checks me again and says that I am still 5 cm, the baby is at 0 station and she wants me to push to get him into the birth canal. I am like WHAT!?!?!?! After one push I had him the birth canal and was at a 10! So we waited about 20 minutes to have him, just so that my parents could be there for the birth! My parents arrived and David was crowning! I pushed 3 times and had a baby on my chest. It was amazing! Robert caught him, brought him to my chest and cut the cord. David was a little cold so he was under the warmer about 20 minutes. But once he was all warmed up, they wrapped in a towel and brought him to me. I didn’t know I could love another human that much but I am COMPLETELY and UTTERLY IN LOVE!!!!

Let's have a baby!

OK, body we need to have a conversation. False labor isn't nice or fun or fair! If you are going to give me contractions, you need to be consistent. The need to increase in frequency and intensity. I want to call me midwife after several hours of good contractions. Then ultimately I need to have my son! So now that we have that straight let's have this baby!

Baby Food

So I am very interested in making my own baby food. Where I nannied last, the mom made a lot of her son's food. I have been looking at all the different gadgets that can be used to make food. Though initially I want to say, why in the world would you pay that much for a baby food maker (i.e. Beaba Babycook $149)?

Beaba Babycook

a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster all in one

steams veggies, fruit, meat,&fish in 15min or less

preserving vits &mins

quickly reheats or defrost precooked food

BPA free

Recipes are included when you buy

Then I think about just how much it cost to buy baby food. Those little jars are expensive, I know that the number 3 Gerber are close to $0.80/jar. So then I think OK, if I am going to feed my child every meal from a jar, that would be what 2 jars or so a meal, so 6-8 jars a day. That would be about $6/day, $45/week, $180/month ( if we are feeding w/#3 jars) . So, I KNOW I can't afford that. So maybe buying a machine that does all that the Beaba Babycook does isn't so bad. Now to be sure there are cheaper machines, or you can use your own steamer and blender. But I have neither. So I would like to know what you veteran mom's did. I know I will have to buy something, but what should it be?

DIY Nursing Cover

So I really want one of those nursing covers. However I am a little tight on the budget, (amazing how much money a baby suck away before they make their appearance!) So my mom and I were looking for tutorials that show you how to make one, that has the boning in it so you can see the baby nursing. If you are interested in making one here is one of the sites we found called made by the mama monster. My mom, sis and I are on our way to Hobby Lobby and Hancock Fabric to get the supplies. I will post pictures and let you know how it goes. One lady said she spent $10 to make 2! Those covers start at $32 and go up! So I am a little excited about my project:)

Ok so I made my nursing cover and am very VERY proud of myself! Thanks to some help from my mom, this cover cost me a whooping $8!!!!

Complete with the boning so I can see my little one feeding

Here is my finished product!

Here are the supplies for 2 covers, the boning was $1.80, the fabrics were about $4.50 ea.

and the thread $1.30